Double Bass New Ischell Mic, Gear Junkie Review Coming

[rickwolff]

Another couple clips, AND I double checked. These are labeled correctly. One way you can tell is on the Xlson open-air mic there is a tiny bit of bleed where you can hear my voice faintly (after I mute the vocal mic). On the Ischell there is virtually No Bleed.

 

[Dave Tompkins]

Rick, thanks for all the work on the sound clips.
How easy is it to get to the xlr input behind the tailpiece? Do you need to remove the preamp (fighting the 3m dual lock?) I used to have an Accusound with a preamp in a similar position and had to attach a short xlr extension for easy access. This added tailpiece furniture didn't help my rattle neurosis which already has wasted countless hours of practice time trying to locate unwelcome noises.
Is that the battery in a soft material holder above it? (on the picture in post#12)

 

[Earl]

HELP, MODS. Could you please remove the attached files from post #33 and add a note saying:
The files previously attached in this post were incorrectly labeled. The correctly labeled files are now in Post #40.

OOPS !!!! I think I Posted the Wrong File

Up above in post #33 I believe I posted the Xlson Mic file TWICE - Once labeled as the Ischell. Yeah, my face is bright red right now. My sincere apologies.

So, assuming that I DID make that mistake (it was actually brought to my attention by Fischer Ischell himself who wrote to me saying he couldn't hear any difference between the two recordings.

I am reposting the CORRECT FILES BELOW. I will also then re-record another file and I think I can/should add some treble back in to the Ischell mic. But for now, here are the CORRECTLY LABELED FILES:

Yeah I thought that sounded a little too good to be true!

 

[Ric Vice]

But, as you say, the Ischell is very useable and, I think, pleasant. However, like the Ehrlund, I am finding that placement makes a BIG difference. I don't think I have yet found the best placement (and therefore the best sound) on my bass, but I will try a number of things to try and find the optimum placement and sound that I can get with the Ischell.

Since I'm already starting with a 'pretty good sound' with the Ischell, if I can improve that quite a bit I think it would be great. The conveniences of the Ischell (leaving it on the bass, no additional clamp or boom required, the ability to run it into a bass amp that doesn't have phantom power) all make it rather compelling.

Agreed, one thing to note Rick, when I run the EAP into a Grace Felix, the Channel Gain controls go from 21 db to 62 db. That's before it hits the Amp out. So there's a lot of available headroom on the Grace Preamp. Just something to consider.

 

[rickwolff]

Rick, thanks for all the work on the sound clips.
How easy is it to get to the xlr input behind the tailpiece? Do you need to remove the preamp (fighting the 3m dual lock?) I used to have an Accusound with a preamp in a similar position and had to attach a short xlr extension for easy access. This added tailpiece furniture didn't help my rattle neurosis which already has wasted countless hours of practice time trying to locate unwelcome noises.
Is that the battery in a soft material holder above it? (on the picture in post#12)

Hi Dave,
The preamp came with an attachment material that is NOT 3M Dual Lock. The one side is similar, the the other side which attaches to the back of the tailpiece is more like velcro material. It is quite easy to remove the preamp, although the 'velcro' is plenty strong to keep it from falling off. That said, once I identified which direction the XLR had to face it's not hard at all to attach it and detach the XLR cable from the pre-amp.

And yes, It is a little fairly stiff fabric bag that also has the 'velcro' tape to attach to the tailpiece and that holds the 9v. Quite ingenious and well-executed. I took advantage of the 9v power to try the Ischell into my GenzBenz Shuttle 6.2 driving my GK new 12. If I ever work with a drummer I will use that to put the fear of god into him or her.

 

[rickwolff]

Yeah I thought that sounded a little too good to be true!

Maybe NOT to good to be true. Check out my new clips in the next post.

 

[rickwolff]

Fischer Ischel gave me some good suggestions. You've got to hear this.

Fischer contacted me with two good ideas:

1. Trying some different placements, including around the G bridge foot again, and try moving it a little bit and see how the sound changes. This is pretty incredible. I am getting VERY close but need to do just a little more experimenting.

2. Use more putty - this will result in a less compressed sound. Check out the clip of the Ischell below. If I didn't know better I'd think this was an 'Air Mic'. I used ALL of the white putty which raised the mic housing close to 1/4 inch above the table.

PS I boosted the bass on the Ischell by 4db. I'm pretty sure that I can find a spot that will give me a rich sound without any bass boost, but I'm really tickled by the clarity of the sound and the sense of 'air' that I'm hearing.

 

[rickwolff]

ONE FINAL CLIP Ischell over Sound Post

Recording with the Zoom Q8 1 foot in front of Genzler Acoustic Pro (Gollihur Model).

And with that I rest my case and bid you Good Night.

 

[Wasnex]

I prefer the Ischell in the normal position. Sounds fabulous IMHO. I do agree the Xlson sounds a bit better, but in an ensemble, I believe the Ischell will provide far superior results: I.E. better rejection of bleed from other sound sources, and much higher gain before feedback with an on-stage bass amp.

 

[Kristian]

View attachment 4498678 Fischer Ischel gave me some good suggestions. You've got to hear this.

Fischer contacted me with two good ideas:

1. Trying some different placements, including around the G bridge foot again, and try moving it a little bit and see how the sound changes. This is pretty incredible. I am getting VERY close but need to do just a little more experimenting.

2. Use more putty - this will result in a less compressed sound. Check out the clip of the Ischell below. If I didn't know better I'd think this was an 'Air Mic'. I used ALL of the white putty which raised the mic housing close to 1/4 inch above the table.

PS I boosted the bass on the Ischell by 4db. I'm pretty sure that I can find a spot that will give me a rich sound without any bass boost, but I'm really tickled by the clarity of the sound and the sense of 'air' that I'm hearing.

That’s it, I’m in!

 

[DoubleMIDI]

That looks like the Ischell sits (exactly?) on top of the soundpost.
That is a position that was recommended for the Ehrlund EAP too.

That position works well on my bass with the EAP, but in general I prefer the other side: below the bass side bridge foot, touching the bass bar from the f-hole side (not on the bass bar), so I can move it up or down depending how much pizz impulse or arco softness is needed. But every bass is different…

 

[Dave Tompkins]

Hi Dave,
The preamp came with an attachment material that is NOT 3M Dual Lock. The one side is similar, the the other side which attaches to the back of the tailpiece is more like velcro material. It is quite easy to remove the preamp, although the 'velcro' is plenty strong to keep it from falling off. That said, once I identified which direction the XLR had to face it's not hard at all to attach it and detach the XLR cable from the pre-amp.

And yes, It is a little fairly stiff fabric bag that also has the 'velcro' tape to attach to the tailpiece and that holds the 9v. Quite ingenious and well-executed. I took advantage of the 9v power to try the Ischell into my GenzBenz Shuttle 6.2 driving my GK new 12. If I ever work with a drummer I will use that to put the fear of god into him or her.

Thanks Rick.

 

[adarvas]

Thank you for demoing this newest iteration of the Ischell. I've been looking at your clips ever since your Ischell demo with your BSX. That was the most convincing EUB sound I've ever heard. I even sent that clip to my good friend, a classical concert pianist with very finicky ears, and he "bought" it. Can I ask you why you sold that bass? It looks like it's ergonomically very different from a double bass and I've been thinking about building deep shoulders to keep it in the right spot. (my real bass is a 7/8 Fendt copy, a bit of a beast). I don't mean to derail the conversation from the new mic. I really enjoyed your sound samples, especially the last one! That's a very useable sound and I'm glad you didn't cut more of the highs, it doesn't sound clacky and I'd miss those frequencies playing live.

 

[rickwolff]

Hello Adarvas,

First of all, you're most welcome. I really enjoy trialing gear (always searching for the elusive 'perfection'). Re the BSX, I'm always 'churning' gear since I have neither the budget nor the space to keep everything I try for a while. I attempt to maintain a 'One In - One-Out' policy. Probably a pre-requisite for staying married (42 years now).

I, fortunately, have gigs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so I will have a good chance to put the new Ischell to the test in the 'real world'. I'm definitely looking forward to it and will, of course, report my results.

You make a good point regarding the high frequencies in a live setting. There are several musicians I work with (a pianist and a drummer) who often ask me to add more highs. I think the Ischell will please them.

 

[Earl]

ONE FINAL CLIP Ischell over Sound Post

Recording with the Zoom Q8 1 foot in front of Genzler Acoustic Pro (Gollihur Model).

And with that I rest my case and bid you Good Night.

Nice! I am interested in your gig feedback (no pun intended). As we know, what sounds good at home does not always work in the 'real world'.

 

[rickwolff]

Is there a Dr. in the house? I'm seriously worried I may have OCD.

Here is a comparison of The White Putty vs The Gray Putty.

The mic is in the same place over the soundpost. I have used all of the putty on each which raises the mic housing about 1/4 of an inch above the plate and causes less compression to the sound.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

WHAT DO YOU, OR DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT EITHER?

 

[adarvas]

Is there a Dr. in the house? I'm seriously worried I may have OCD.

Here is a comparison of The White Putty vs The Gray Putty.

The mic is in the same place over the soundpost. I have used all of the putty on each which raises the mic housing about 1/4 of an inch above the plate and causes less compression to the sound.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

WHAT DO YOU, OR DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT EITHER?

White putty for me......by about a mile! Again, those useful highs are present, whereas the gray is bit muffled to my ear, although I can see why that's an attractive sound at home, on its own. Speaking of your OCD......I have listened to cables for hours A/B-ing them. The differences are very clear to me but I'm not spending $1500 for a 6' Tara Labs cable however great it sounds.

 

[rickwolff]

White putty for me......by about a mile! Again, those useful highs are present, whereas the gray is bit muffled to my ear, although I can see why that's an attractive sound at home, on its own.

Thanks for the vote, AND the explanation. I tend to agree with both of your points: 1. It is a very pleasant sound at home, but 2. Those highs would probably be very useful on the gig. Depending on the responses here I may switch back to the white before tomorrow's gig OR I may leave the gray on for Friday and switch to white for Saturday. It's the same club both nights - just different piano players.

 

[adarvas]

Thanks for the vote, AND the explanation. I tend to agree with both of your points: 1. It is a very pleasant sound at home, but 2. Those highs would probably be very useful on the gig. Depending on the responses here I may switch back to the white before tomorrow's gig OR I may leave the gray on for Friday and switch to white for Saturday. It's the same club both nights - just different piano players.

With electric bass, I always end up adding back the highs on a gig. It is an easy turn of a knob but with upright highs can sound offensive, clacky, thin. This pup with the white putty sounds sweet and musical with none of the clack and thin piezo misery. How is it with bow? That's the real though part, eh? Yes a Canadian.....

 

[rickwolff]

With electric bass, I always end up adding back the highs on a gig. It is an easy turn of a knob but with upright highs can sound offensive, clacky, thin. This pup with the white putty sounds sweet and musical with none of the clack and thin piezo misery. How is it with bow? That's the real though part, eh? Yes a Canadian.....

I haven't tried it with the bow. One thing at a time, eh? (pretending to be a Canadian - I might have considered moving to Canada except for the cold weather - I used to live in Minnesota, AND since I'm OLD and Retired and don't work in an In-Demand profession Canada wouldn't let me in anyway - except to visit. Same challenges with New Zealand which has much better weather).